The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1991

Veterinary enquiry as to existence of disease and requirements as respects affected or suspected animals

6.—(1) If a veterinary inspector has reasonable grounds for supposing that the disease exists or has within 56 days existed on any premises he shall, with all practicable speed, take such steps as may be necessary to establish the correctness of that supposition.

(2) For the purposes of such an enquiry a veterinary inspector may—

(a) examine any bovine animal or carcase on the premises;

(b) make such tests and take such samples from any bovine animal or carcase on the premises as he may consider necessary for the purpose of diagnosis;

(c) mark for identification purposes any bovine animal or carcase on the premises.

(3) The occupier of the premises and his employees, and any person who is or has been in possession or charge of any animal or carcase which is or has been on the premises, shall—

(a) provide such reasonable facilities and comply with such reasonable requirements as are necessary for the purposes of the enquiry; and

(b) if so required by an inspector of the Minister or by an officer of the appropriate Minister, give such information as he possesses as to—

(i) any animal or carcase which is or has been on the premises;

(ii) any other animal or carcase with which any animal or carcase which is or has been on the premises may have come into contact, and

(iii) the location and movement of any animal or carcase which is or has been in his possession or charge.

(4) If, on completion of the enquiry, the veterinary inspector is of the opinion that there is an affected or a suspected animal, or the carcase of such an animal, on the premises he shall serve a notice in Form A on the owner or person in charge of that animal or carcase.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6) below, a notice in Form A shall remain in force for a period of 28 days from the date specified in the notice unless—

(a) renewed for a further period of 28 days beginning with the day on which it would otherwise have expired by a further notice in writing served by a veterinary inspector on the owner or person in charge of such animal or carcase before or on the day on which the notice in Form A was due to expire; or

(b) the animal or carcase to which the notice in Form A relates has been removed from the premises under the authority of a licence issued by a veterinary inspector.

(6) Any notice in Form A which has been renewed under paragraph (5)(a) above may be further renewed from time to time by a veterinary inspector in a similar manner and for a similar period.

(7) A notice in Form A may at any time be withdrawn by a notice in Form B served by a veterinary inspector on the owner or person in charge of the animal or carcase to which the notice in Form A relates.

(8) On the service of a notice in Form A the requirements contained in that notice shall have effect.